McCann Drops Close Game to Everett
SHEFFIELD, Mass. -- The McCann Tech girls' basketball team was just one good quarter away from its first win of the season when Mount Everett decided it had other plans on its mind.The Eagles outscored the Hornets 14-6 in the fourth quarter, turning a 29-26 lead for McCann into a 40-35 loss on the road Monday night. Deseraye Conaway scored eight of her game-high 18 points from the foul line in the fourth, helping Everett erase a three-point deficit after three quarters of play. Tricia Race also had 12 points for the Eagles (4-1), all from 3-point range in fact, while Tara Sullivan contributed seven points and 18 rebounds.
"We dominated for about two-thirds or three-quarters of the game," Hornets head coach Kristen Lewis said. "We ran the floor and had very high intensity. We played hard and left everything we had on the floor. We need to work on putting a whole game together and playing all four quarters. We need to stay positive and keep an upbeat attitude even when we fall behind."
Junior guard Mary Nguyen and senior forward Cassie Field each scored 13 points for McCann (0-3). Nguyen did most of her damage with three 3-pointers, but she also managed to work her way to a team-high 10 rebounds. Senior guard Ashley Alibozek chipped in with nine points and four boards. After three games this season, Alibozek leads the team with 11 points per game.
Lewis said one of her biggest challenges before her team's next game on January 5th is finding other players on her roster who can consistenly help out the three players listed above.
"We have valuable players that we turn to every game to score and play the hardest girls on defense, but we need to have some other players step up and start helping them out," Lewis said. "With only three girls who look to score and do all of the scoring, we will be an easy team to defend in upcoming games. There needs to be a balance with both these 'turn-to' players and others who are willing to become a threat on the floor.
"Tonight, Mary and Ashley were asked to cover their biggest girl and shut her down. In doing this, we left the outstide open, which allowed for Conaway to hit some outside shots and drive to the hoop, where she was fouled and made most of her shots from the line."